Grace Faver | Washtenaw Voice
By Kristy Kazzi
Staff Writer
This winter is turning out to be different from the norm. Christmas Day was in the 50s, a very unusual weather pattern for Michiganders.
According to the World Meteorological Organization, the year 2023 as a whole shattered climate records with data through the end of October showing temperatures were about 1.40 degrees Celsius (with a margin of uncertainty of ±0.12°C ) above the pre-industrial 1850-1900 baseline.
WCC students have noticed the changing temperatures as well.
“It’s still really cold, but compared to a few years ago, it’s still warm,” said Alexa Harris, a 20-year-old student at WCC.
Harris also echoes many students’ worries.
“It’s scary how much we can notice climate change now,” Harris said, highlighting the real-life impact of these weather shifts.
Courtney Higgins, an environmental science professor at WCC, explained that this warming might be linked to climate change and greenhouse gasses.
The weather isn’t just about temperatures; it affects our daily lives and our moods as well as our motivations, said Higgins.
“When temperatures are disruptive, it causes difficulty for students to learn because if the weather is particularly nice, it’s more tempting to do something outside or not go to class,” Higgins said.
In the classrooms, there’s a new interest in learning about climate change.
“I have more students as of late that are interested in learning more [about climate change]. Some just want to get a basic knowledge of it, and some actually want to pursue a career in it,” said Higgins.
